A Memory Thread ~ After the Glitter Fades

baboles · #1 12-27-2010, 01:01 PM

I thought it would be fun to start a memory thread dedicated to all our favorite songs by Stevie. This week, I decided to start with "After the Glitter Fades" because it was the first song to cross my mind.

Here's how it will go. Each week I'll post a new 'Memory Thread' with a different song. All you need to do is write down your memories that come to mind when you think about the particular song that's up for discussion.

What to keep in mind:

Where were you when you first heard this song?
What's the first memory that comes to mind?
Etc...etc...

For me, my fondest memory associated with "After the Glitter Fades" came about in mid 2007. I remember waiting for one of my best friends (Scott) to come and meet me in the high school parking lot so we could go hang out. I had the Bella Donna record in the CD player while I was waiting for him to arrive. I really wanted him to hear "After the Glitter Fades" when he showed up and sat down in my passenger seat. I always feel so silly when introducing my friends to Stevie or any other music for that matter. Scott enjoys country music, so I naturally thought that "After the Glitter Fades" would be the perfect song for him to hear. I kept the song on repeat until he finally showed up and stepped into my car. He said, "What are you listening to?" I replied, "Stevie Nicks of course!" haha! He nodded and seemed to like the song. We exited the parking lot as it faded out.

That's what comes to mind when I think about this song in particular.

David · #2 12-27-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baboles

Where were you when you first heard this song?
What's the first memory that comes to mind?
Etc...etc...

I was sitting in my room, listening to the BD album, which I had just bought at the record store (yes, they used to sell records in stores). I wasn't really digging the BD album so far, except for the title song. When I got to ATGF, I thought how odd it was, how countryish, how totally weird for Stevie Nicks. It was the first really blatant country music we had ever heard Stevie Nicks do, & it was especially weird on BD, which we all expected to be filled with the kinds of witchy lite-rock she always did.

Robert Hilburn, writing in the L.A. Times, loved ATGF.

baboles · #3 12-27-2010, 06:57 PM

I thought it was very nice to hear some country influence in the Bella Donna record. It really does well with Stevie's voice.

Sahara · #4 12-27-2010, 07:25 PM

This song reminds me of the first time I saw Storytellers in 2006. I hadn't been listening to much Stevie in the past few months and that show launched me straight back into full-on fandom. It reminded me of all the reasons I love her

vivfox · #5 12-27-2010, 07:51 PM

I bought BD on its release date, July 27,1981. I had to go to the hospital that day because I had injured my toe in an accident. I couldn't wait to get outta there and to the record store to get my album.

Ofcourse I played that record a million times that day and everyday afterwards. I loved ATGF from first listen. Especially the first line, "Well I never thought I'd make it here in Hollywood."

David said he was unfamilar with the country side of Stevie but I would say we already had that with Landslide. At this point I had already heard the coffee plant demos so I was very aware of how great she sounded outside of the rock-n-roll sound.

AliceLover · #6 12-27-2010, 08:34 PM

Hmmm, I did not hear ATGF until Enchanted came out. I was a big fan of the Mac after The Dance and I really started getting into Stevie's solo stuff. I thought this song was extremely country-ish...I loved the verses. I remember her playing it on the Enchanted tour and being very excited; however, over the years it has lost a lot of its "oomph" factor. I rarely ever listen to this song.

AliceLover · #7 12-27-2010, 08:35 PM

PS: Cool thread Baboles!

baboles · #8 12-27-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AliceLover

PS: Cool thread Baboles!

Thank you!

baboles · #9 12-27-2010, 08:40 PM

Does anyone else just sway back and forth and sing ATGF as loud as they can? I do.

cristochango · #10 12-27-2010, 09:02 PM

I first really got into this song when I learned how to play it on guitar.

I found it really easy to sing and play at the same time. It's one of my favorite songs to play on guitar

baboles · #11 12-27-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cristochango

I first really got into this song when I learned how to play it on guitar.

I found it really easy to sing and play at the same time. It's one of my favorite songs to play on guitar

Ummm...you should upload a video of that!

TerraRhiannon · #12 12-27-2010, 10:03 PM

This song would be really fun to play on guitar, but the only Stevie song I can play is Landslide. After The Glitter Fades is a weird one for me because I didn't really like it at first, I always skipped it on Bella Donna, but then one day I guess I was in the mood to listen to it, and I really love it now.

Where I was when I first Heard this song: On my Bed, in a mellow mood, eating YoGurt, listening to Bella Donna.
What I think of when I hear this song: I think of my own perseverance in life, hence the line, 'What I seem to want, well you Know I'll find a way." <---Totally relevant to I. "We'll all chase something, & this is a dream."

I ♥ this song, it's so nice.

PenguinHead · #13 12-27-2010, 10:19 PM

I think After the Glitter Fades is one her most lyrically cohesive songs. Her grandfather was a would-be country singer, and those influences are revealed in some of her songs. A lot of country songs sound very cheesy to me, but Stevie does country very well - it feels authentic. I recall that someone country singer covered the song...someone like Willie Nelson. Can anyone recall that?

There are some really nice lines in the song.

The timeless face of a rock and roll woman while her heart breaks.

The loneliness of a one night stand is hard to take.

The dream keeps coming even when you forget to feel.

gypsy4life · #14 12-27-2010, 10:34 PM

I love this song! However, embarrassingly, every time it starts..."Well, I never thought I'd make it here in Hollywood", I picture the intro to Mary Tyler Moore where she threw her hat up in the air! LOL

I know, that show was not even remotely about Hollywood, or the music biz, but, the image is forever stuck in my brain for some reason!

Anyway, once that line is over, I go on to love the song, and sing along at high volume!

David · #15 12-27-2010, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cristochango

I first really got into this song when I learned how to play it on guitar.

I found it really easy to sing and play at the same time. It's one of my favorite songs to play on guitar

It's a good example of the arrangements that were created for Stevie on her first album. Although these arrangements were minimal in terms of the additive nature of instruments, they often took Stevie's super-simple musical structures (in the case of ATGF, a I-IV-V) & varied them to generate interest. Roy Bittan, in this case, played a piano introduction that kicked the track off in the subdominant rather than in the tonic (where Stevie starts her demo).